Give Sneaker Retros a Chance

As history and nostalgia dictates, wizened sneakerheads tend to covet kicks from their youth in the 80s and 90s – even 2000s (yes, it’s 2019). Most styles from those eras now contain dried-out foam, superfluous plastic inserts, or brittle Air bags that could crumble at any moment. Some older midsoles teeter on the fine line of being barely wearable, as hairline cracks grow into flaking chasms. The enjoyment of wearing OGs is laced with anxiety, constantly dreading the last step that breaks the camel’s polyurethane back. 

Enter the retro sneaker. They’re here, fresh off the production line – at least much newer than the 20-year-old predecessor. These retro sneakers can be worn with complete confidence, perhaps even disregard. They’re ready to take a beating, the midsoles pliable and shock absorbing, and likely to be in one piece once taken off. Modern production is a science, replacing dated (and sometimes hazardous) compounds with safer, more stable materials.

For a long time, the quality of retro sneakers was at the mercy of a brand’s attention to detail. Shortcuts were taken. There was panelling that didn’t match the OGs. Wrong colours in the wrong places. Worst yet, some had downright poor quality control, including crack-prone paint. People eventually voted with their wallets, hurting the brands that were playing with retro fire.

Fortunately, some brands listened to the minutiae feedback from their most ardent supporters. One example was New Balance. The iconic grey 997 returned in 2014 to raucous fanfare from NB nerds worldwide, but it was ever so slightly off according to stringent trainerspotters. The response came shortly after, with the newly designated 997GY2. Tweaking the midsole colour has appeased the toughest critics – for the time being. This is living proof that brands have removed their heads from the sand.

Kudos also goes to Nike for unexpectedly remaking runners like the Air Ghost Racer, earning its deserved ‘Remastered’ label. The revived ZX and SPZL lines meant adidas received similar praise for their efforts in meeting connoisseur consumer demand. With product people like Gary Aspden representing the fanatical sneaker community, retros have improved considerably. Of course, brands still have a long way to go to get certain sneaker shapes, proportions and colours right, but at least they’re thinking to bring back old styles in the first place.